IFCE (French Horse and Riding Institute), Saumur Technical Platform, Saumur, France.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
PLoS One. 2024 Oct 17;19(10):e0311919. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311919. eCollection 2024.
Health and performance of vaulting horses cantering with reins might be affected by rein tensions. The primary aim of this present study was to measure rein and lunge line tensions in international-level vaulting horses with several types of reins adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the FEI Vaulting Rules and study the effect of reins types on it. The secondary aim was to evaluate behavioural signs of discomfort under the same conditions and study the effect of reins types on it. The relationship between tensions and behavioural signs of discomfort was then explored. Thirty-nine international-level vaulting horses took part in this study and tested side reins either with an elastic part, all elastic or without elastic, draw reins with an upper adjustment triangle and side reins fixed on the noseband. Tensions of the left and right reins and the lunge line were measured with sensors at a rate of 80 Hz for a canter of 1min30 on a 15-meter circle, without a vaulter, and behavioural analyses (on the locomotion, tail, head, mouth and ears movements) were performed using video filmed by a camera attached to the lunger's chest. Mixed models revealed that the Root mean square (RMS) of the tensions of the left and right reins, of the total, as well as the lunge line, were significantly influenced by rein type (p<0.001) in all cases). Total RMS tension ranged from 6.2 kg to 11.7 kg with a right RMS tension superior to left RMS (p < 0.001). When tension was high, mouth opening increased (p = 0.007). It was with draw reins that total tension (p < 0.05) and mouth openings were lower (p = 0.005), even if a high proportion of variance of these discomfort behaviours could be explained by the individual horse.
马具的张力可能会影响到盛装舞步马匹的健康和表现。本研究的主要目的是测量国际级盛装舞步马匹在不同类型的马具调整下的缰绳和挽具线张力，并研究马具类型对其的影响。次要目的是在相同条件下评估马匹的不适行为表现，并研究马具类型对其的影响。然后，探讨了张力与不适行为表现之间的关系。39 匹国际级盛装舞步马匹参与了本研究，测试了带有弹性部分、全弹性或无弹性部分的侧缰、带有上调整三角形的挽具和固定在鼻革上的侧缰。在没有骑手的情况下，使用传感器以 80Hz 的速率测量了 1 分 30 秒 15 米圆形赛道上的左缰和右缰以及挽具线的张力，同时使用连接在骑手胸部的摄像机拍摄视频进行行为分析（观察运动、尾巴、头部、嘴巴和耳朵的动作）。混合模型表明，在所有情况下，左缰和右缰以及总缰绳和挽具线的根均方根（RMS）张力均受马具类型的显著影响（p<0.001）。总 RMS 张力范围为 6.2kg 至 11.7kg，右侧 RMS 张力高于左侧 RMS（p<0.001）。当张力较高时，嘴巴张开度增加（p=0.007）。正是使用挽具时，总张力（p<0.05）和嘴巴张开度较低（p=0.005），尽管这些不适行为的个体差异可以解释很大一部分方差。
